Literary notes about Conservatism (AI summary)
The term "conservatism" has been employed in literature to capture a range of attitudes—from a commitment to the status quo and tradition to expressions of inertia or even, at times, gentle rebellion. In some works, it is contrasted sharply with visionary ideals, as when traditional acceptance is pitted against transformative forces in society and religion [1, 2]. At other moments, conservatism takes on a cultural or technical dimension: it may describe an unyielding, rote adherence in behavior or artistry, as seen in discussions of handwriting or the plastic arts [3, 4]. Moreover, the term is variably imbued with gendered connotations, sometimes diminishing feminine traits [5, 6] and at other times serving as a bastion of institutional stability [7, 8]. Even within revolutionary or anthropological contexts, whether in the embodiment of historical tradition amid change [9, 10] or in the customs of indigenous peoples [11], "conservatism" proves to be a multifaceted concept resisting simple definition.
- Conservatism says, "Let the world be as it is"; but Christianity says, "Make it what it should be."
— from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I - When man rises in revolution, with the sword in his right hand, trembling wealth and conservatism say, "What do you want?
— from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I - Technical conservatism appears, for instance, in a man's handwriting, which is so seldom improved, even when admitted, perhaps, to be execrable.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana - Conservatism rules also in those manufactures which are tributary to architecture and the smaller plastic arts.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana - Yet feminine conservatism indicates a certain stupidity, less excitability and smaller capacity for accepting new impressions.
— from Criminal Psychology: A Manual for Judges, Practitioners, and Students by Hans Gross - Feminine conservatism is as insignificant as feminine punctuality.
— from Criminal Psychology: A Manual for Judges, Practitioners, and Students by Hans Gross - Conservatism opposes this now; but I love conservatism; it is guarding our institutions until the new mother is prepared to take the charge.
— from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I - Conservatism opposes this now; but I love conservatism; it is guarding our institutions until the new mother is prepared to take the charge.
— from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I - The name i. 72 stood for tradition and conservatism—an embodiment of the past amid the changes of revolution.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Kent, now thirty-five years old, a great lawyer and a strong partisan, had the i. 69 conservatism of Jay, and held to the principles of Hamilton.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - The Middle towns, shut in from the outside world by high mountains, remained a stronghold of Cherokee conservatism.
— from Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney
